I'm not entirely sure where to post this! We have a flock of 9 chickens (1 roo, 8 hens). 8 are standard size chickens, and one is a dark brahma banty hen. We felt sorry for her at the feed store because she was so tiny no one would take her and she was the only one left so we bought her with the others. The banty, named Spud, has always held her own with the others and stayed consistently in the middle of the pecking order. She would get pecked by the higher hens, but I never worried about her because her feathers were so thick and fluffy. She is also a favorite of our roo. They have worked out a system to get the "job" done which is quite something to see!
This Thursday morning, Spud was attacked by our neighbors dog and sustained some pretty nasty injuries. She has numerous cuts, scrapes, puncture wounds, and a huge hole in her side. She is missing most of the feathers on her neck (She looks like a Turken), most of the feathers from one side and almost all of her tail. There is a LOT of exposed skin. I didn't expect her to live, but she is my son's pet, so we decided to try and see what we could do. She is adjusting well to her kennel in the dining room. She is enjoying lots of treats, acting like her normal albeit slower self and looks to be healing well.
Anyway, now that her recovering could actually be a possibility (yes, I know it's still very early!), I have started to wonder about her future. Here are my questions for you wise chicken folks:
1. She just finished a hard molt the end of March, will she grow any new feathers after this, or will she look like this until next spring?
2. Can she keep herself warm with only 50% of her feathers? Right now it's not an issue inside, but if she were to go outside later.
3. Would you put her back with the flock when she is healed with so much exposed skin AND being one of the roos faves? I don't want her to get torn up again by the others. I am not opposed to having her as a house chicken, but DH isn't too keen on the idea, so we could arrange another pen for her if we had to.
4. If you think that she should go back with the flock, how do you go about reintroducing her? Will they remember her after three or four weeks (or more) away from them?
5. If she doesn't go back with this flock, should we buy her some other banty friends? I think she sees us, especially my son, as one of her flockmates, but I worry about her being lonely.
Thanks for any advice you can offer me!
(Man, rereading my post has shown me just how bad my chicken fever is!!)
This Thursday morning, Spud was attacked by our neighbors dog and sustained some pretty nasty injuries. She has numerous cuts, scrapes, puncture wounds, and a huge hole in her side. She is missing most of the feathers on her neck (She looks like a Turken), most of the feathers from one side and almost all of her tail. There is a LOT of exposed skin. I didn't expect her to live, but she is my son's pet, so we decided to try and see what we could do. She is adjusting well to her kennel in the dining room. She is enjoying lots of treats, acting like her normal albeit slower self and looks to be healing well.
Anyway, now that her recovering could actually be a possibility (yes, I know it's still very early!), I have started to wonder about her future. Here are my questions for you wise chicken folks:
1. She just finished a hard molt the end of March, will she grow any new feathers after this, or will she look like this until next spring?
2. Can she keep herself warm with only 50% of her feathers? Right now it's not an issue inside, but if she were to go outside later.
3. Would you put her back with the flock when she is healed with so much exposed skin AND being one of the roos faves? I don't want her to get torn up again by the others. I am not opposed to having her as a house chicken, but DH isn't too keen on the idea, so we could arrange another pen for her if we had to.
4. If you think that she should go back with the flock, how do you go about reintroducing her? Will they remember her after three or four weeks (or more) away from them?
5. If she doesn't go back with this flock, should we buy her some other banty friends? I think she sees us, especially my son, as one of her flockmates, but I worry about her being lonely.
Thanks for any advice you can offer me!
(Man, rereading my post has shown me just how bad my chicken fever is!!)
